Bottle-capping machine



Sept. 4, 1923.

. C. J. KRYZANOWSKY' BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE Filed May 26 1917 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 x m a I, iniviliiuii;

Q :M I @i Patna-a Sept '4; 1923.

' UNITED STATES PATENroF-mca.

, CONSTANT KRYZANOWSKY, F MOUNT WASHINGTON, MARYLAND, ASSICNOR TO THE CROWN CORK AND SEAL COMPANY OF BALTIMORE CITY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION OF mYLAND.

IBOTTLE-CAPPING' mnonmn Application fled 191228, 1917. Serial No. 171,080

e To all whom it may concern:

- Be it known that -I, CONSTANT J.

KRYZANOWSKY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mount Washington, county of Baltimore, and State of Mary and, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bottle-Cappin Machines,

. It is one of the objects of this invention to provide automatic crown feeding apparatus which may be readil and inexpensively attached to and combined with a (rapping machine originally made for hand feed to form a complete automatic crowner.

In the use'of botttle-capping-machines it is more or less frequently desirable to isassemble or remove the various parts for the purpose of cleaning, chan 'ng the style of crown used, removing muti ated crowns and the like. In machines of this sort, as heretofore known, such disassembly and removal hasbeen, inconvenient and attended with a substantial loss of time.

advantage in capping machines as hereto-- A further dis tore known, has been-the fact that the crown cage. and selecting dial could not be removed I without disturbing the crowns held in the storage channel, and in cases where this channel has been formed by a relatively movable member, as, for example, the ca itself, there has been the additional dis-- advantage that the crowns in the channel were subjected to the friction of the moving member. V

It isa further object of the present in vention to provide a bottle-capping machine in which crowns held in the storage channel are not subjected to the friction of moving parts and are not disturbed by removal of the crown cage. 7

With these general objects in view the invention consists in the combinations, details of construction and arrangements of parts which will first be described in connection with the accompanying drawing and then more'particularly pointed out.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a view 1n side elevation of a bottle-cappin cordance' wit I this invention;

Fig. 2 isan enlarged front view of the upper part of the machine;

gig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view; an 7 4 Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of F 3. I

The capping hea 10 shown in the present embodiment, whichis of the type that is reciprocated to and from the botttle to be capped, has an arm 11 which is secured to the top of a reciprocating rod or lunger 12 enclosed within a hollow stan ard 13 extending upwardly fromvthe base 14. This plunge-r 1s connected by a pitman 15 with the crank pin on a crank disk. fixed to a shaft 16 which is in turn connected with the drive shaft by a clutch of the type that causes one cycle of the driven shaft for each-actuation of the clutch. The clutch is operated by a treadle 17. Extending out from the top of the standard 13 is a bifurcated ide bracket 18 between the arms of Whi a -web 19,

machine'constructed in acformed integral with the head 10, slides as the head moves u and down.

The bottle 20 to app rests on a. table 21 at the top ofa cylindrical casing 22 which has a bearing in a bracket 23 extending out from the standard 13. To raise and lower this table to adapt the machine to bottles of different sizes, i. e., quarts,- pints, etc, the cylindrical casing 22 is provided at the bottom with a screw 24 in threaded relation with a sleeve 25 carried by abracket on the base 14. By turning the casing the table is raised or lowered, a set screw 27 servingto lock the partsin any desired position. The casing 22 preferablyvcontains compensating mechanism of any suitable type for taking care of slight manufacturing variations in the dimensions of the bottles being capped.

All the above described features are well known in the art and need no further description.

The hopper here shown as an example 28 has central and rear bosses 29, .30, for tl e reception of the shaft, an a central wall 1 which leaves a passageway 32 for the CIOWLS selecting dial and/such is closed by the crown cage 34. This cage,

which isrotated ,as hereinafter described,

has a flat,'annular flange to which is secured the selecting dial. This. latter is of a construction well nown in the art and comprises a ring 36 carrying a plurality of equally spaced" pins 37 larger at the base than at the top. These pins are so designed and so spaced that a crown presented to them can pass between the same only when faced in one way, so that all the crowns passing to the capping head are properly faced. To agitate the crowns in the bottom of the hopper chamber the selecting dial carries one or more paddles 38. Crowns entering the hopper chamber 33 in passageway! 32 are tumbled about by the paddles, some of them then being lifted over the edge of the dial into the cage, where further tumbling by the rotation of the ca e presents them to the as are properly faced pass between the pins.

The. invention in its entirety includes means for storing the selected crowns, such that the crowns stored therebyare not disturbed by the removal of the crown cage and selecting dial, and are not in contact with any relatively movin parts. Although this may be accomplishe in various we s, the construction illustrated comprises a c annel forming ring 39 approximately L shaped in cross-section, secured to a. fiat annular portion 40 of the hopper face and centered thereon by an, annular rib 4.1. It will be apparent from Fig. 3 that this ring, in conjunction with the hopper face, forms a channel 42 surrounding the selecting dial for the reception of crowns which pass between the pins of the dial. The face of the storage ring is concentric with the flange of the crown cage and the inside diameter of the i Y intothe delivery chute.

full the crowns accumulate in the left hand I There ior attaching the q ne storagermg is ater than the outside diameter of both cage and dial. As a result, the latter may be removed regardless of the storage ring and without in any way disturbing channel formed thereby. In addition, it is noted that the storage'channel is formed' so that the crowns.

stationary parts, t ereinare not subjected to the frictionjof moving members..-

As the cage and dial rotate, crowns pass- I as before-described,

drop into the storage. ring and slide down the same until they reach an exit passage 43 at the bottom, through which th'y pass When the chute is side of thei-ring as well as in the right hand crown feeding apparatus to the crowninghead to be carried thereby. This maybe accomplished in various ways. In

, per. but is the same or the crowns stored in theraces the form illustrated, the head top nut it cylindrical portion 46 of the hopper is clamped by means of bolt 47. There 18 also provided means for makin the position of the hopper adjustable with respect to the head. While this end may be attained in various ways, in the present embodiment the column 45 is threaded to receive an adjusting nut 48 hearing against the hopper. By turning this nut'the hopper can be relatively raised or lowered in order to line up the chute with the head opening.

Means is provided for partially compeneating for the weight of the hopper and head on the column 12. In theconstructions embodying the invention to the best advantage, a balance spring is provided. 'While such a spring is capable of various constructions, as illustrated, it comprises a volute band 49 of fiat, spring material, bearing at the top against the arm 11 of the head and centered on the column by a tipped washer 50 carried by the top of the standard 13. 'A. spring of this construction is advantageous in view of the restricted space and the considerable movement of the parts. Further-.

necessary in combining the automatic feed with originally hand fed machines. In structures embodying the invention to the best advantage,'the hopper shaft is normally caused to rotate by the movement of the hopallowed to remain relatively stationary in case a defective crown or foreign matter becomes wedged between the moving parts of the feed.

not

While such driving means is capable of a wide range of, constructions',-in the exemplification shown, pinned to'the hopper shaft 51 is an arm 52 having a pivotal connection with a vertical connecting rod'53 which has a sliding bearing. in a bracket 54 extending out from normally hold the rod 53" from vertical movement a coil spring55 is provided which bears against the bracket 54 and against a collar 55' the. standard 13., To

adjustably secured tothe rod by a thumb nut 56. On the :down. stroke of the.

head and hopper, the spring normally causes the rod 53, to remain stationary, thus causing arm 52 to swing, which inturn rotates 60.p f, however, the wedgingjof defective crowns or other substances between the the ho per -shaft through an -angle of about I. moving and stationary parts of the feed tends to oppose rotation of the shaft, the

-rod 53 is forced downward against the spring and the shaft remains rotatively stationary. The tension of the spring 50 is adjusted as desired by moving collar 55' up or downon the rod.

There is provided means for rotating the crown cage and selecting dial by the movement of the hopper shaft just described, and at the same time, permitting the cage to be independently rotated. In constructions embodying the invention to the best advantage, this is accomplished by a ratchet connectionbetween' cage and shaft. While such connection is capable of a wide range of constructions, in the embodiment illustrfited, on the front end of the hopper shaft enclosed within a circular chamber 57 formedby the cage, is a ratchet-58 which has a clutch connection with a clutch collar 59 permanently pinned on the shaft. This clutchis of the two jaw dog type; 1

The cage 34 has a long hub 61 bearing on a shaft bearing hereinafter described, and having no positive connection with the other parts of the machine, is freely rotatable on its bearing] F astened to the cage is a spring-pressed pawl 60 set in a direction against the teeth of the ratchet. As a result of this construction, each time the ratchet is rotated by the shaft, a'p'ositive impulse is delivered to the cage which gives it a movement of about 60.? after which is carried from a half to three quarters of a revolution by its own momentum. This movement of the cage and dialwhich moves with it, feeds the crowns as above set forth. 'As the cage is rotatable independently of the ratchet and shaft, it may be turned by hand when desired.

There is provided meanswhereby cage and dial are readily removable from the machine and from the shaft. While this end may be attained in various ways, in the form shown, on the front face of the ratchet, which, it will be observed, holds the cage onto the shaft, is ivoted a locking plate 62. A portion of t is plate is cut out and bent away to leave a pear-shaped opening 63, the cutaway portion serving as a handle 64. The small end of this opening is smaller than the shaft and the large end is larger. The end.

of the shaft is formed with a groove and, whenin locking position, the small end of the-'pear-shaped opening of the locking plate straddles this groove, thus holding the ratchet on the shaft, when, however, the locking plate is swung on its pivot 66 the large: portion of the pear-shaped opening is brought up into atposition to clear the shaft,

thereby permitting the ratchet with the ea c and dial to be slipped off the end of t e shaft. a t p To hold th'elocking plate in position. while the machine is in operation, the plate is 7' crowns. Although capable of various con- 'structions', in the exemplification shown, the

shaft is enclosed in'a long bearing 71 extending from the rear end of the shaft to the clutch collar. This bearing is carried by the-rear and central bosses of the hopper and has a circular flange 72 by means of which it can be secured to the hopper. Cut in the inside of this bearing is'a recess 73 opening directly on the shaft and connected by a passage 74: with an oiler 75 located at the outside of the cage. It will be seen that oil v delivered to the shaft cannot drip down into the hopper or cage because the shaft is completely enclosed by the bearing 71 and the long overlap of the cage, hub 61.

There is provided means whereby the throat guide, having a connection with the crown delivery chute, is readily attachable 'to the head of an existing machine and at the same time means whereby this throat guide and its associated parts are readily removable from the head. Although capable of a wide range of constructions, that employed in the present embodiment includesa throat guide nut 76 threaded to be received 7 by the threaded end of the head 10. The throat guide 77 has cast integral therewith a curved chute'portion 78 which forms a connection between the chute proper and the throat guide. This curved chute portion is completed by a throatguide cover 79 which is secured to the crown platform 80. In this latter is an opening of a size to pass a crimped crown but to hold an uncrimped one, the bottom of. the member-'- 80 being flared outwardl as shown in Fig. 3 to serve as a bottle gui e. The crown platform and cover 80 are carried by the throat guide, as hereinafter described. ;The throat guide is removably attached to the nut 76 by abolt 81 which passes through a split boss 82 formed on the throat ide, and engages a oove 83 formed in th: nut 76. This bolt as an enlarged end 84 from which extends a curved pin 85, and a portionof the bolt is I.

cut away as at 86 opposite the groove. The

garts are tightened by a vise-handled nut-87. y turning this latter member, the parts are locked in place, the pin or arm 85v bearing on the chute to prevent the bolt from turning. To remove the throat guide and associated parts, it is only necessary to loosen from the throat guide for removing mutilated crowns, and the like. While this may be attained by numerousconstructions, -m

the form illustrated the crown platform is pivotally suspended from bolt 81 by two' arms 88. On the side of the throat guide is in such relation with respect to across from the hinge is a bifurcated lug 89 carrying a pin 90 on which is pivoted a latch 91, the finger of which engages a pin 92 carried by a bifurcated lug 93 on the crown platform. When the member 91 is'un-' latched, the crown platform and cover 80.

can be swung on the hinge throat, thus giving access crowns;

Enclosed within the lower end of the head is the crowning throat which comprises a thin frustro-conical split ring 94 held in place by keys 95 and backed by a ring 96. Also enclosed within the? head is a knock-out plunger 97 pressed downwardly by a coil spring 98 hearing against the head top nut 4A and against a collar 99 formed on the plunger. This collar also serves'as a stop to limit the downward movement of the plunger. Its upward movement. is limited by the bottom of a recess 100 formed in the head top nut 44 and in which the end of the plunger moves. When the head descends to the waiting bottle the plunger is forced up by the bottle until stopped by the limitation onits stroke. In this position the cap the capping throat as to allow the latter to bend in the cap skirt thereby crimping the ca onto the bottle. And during this capping the cap and bottle are positively held in place by the then stationary plunger 97. ascends after capping, the spring forces the plunger down against the bottle to act as a knock-out and prevent the'bottle from being lifted with the head.

here is provided means whereby the chute from hopper to crown is readily removable While this may be obtainedby various constructions, in the embodiment shown, the delivery end of the storage ring registers with the top of a simple vertical chute 102 secured to a lug 103 on the hopper by a single thumb screw 104. The lower end away from the for removal of of this chute has a slip fit into the separate curved chute portion -78, already described. This permits the ready removal of the curved portion from the veritcal portion and the latter isalso readily removable by merely loosening nut 10 Means is providedfor stopping "the flow of crowns in case a mutilated crownis being received from the crown plattorm, or for independently rotatable.

,eratin the machine as a whole,

As the head incense other reasons. Such means is cafiable of a wide range of constructions. In t e present instance a wire stop 105 is bent around a portion 106 stuck out from the back of the chute. The lower end of the wire has .a singleloop and the end is bent in the form shown in Fig. 3. To stodp this wire end is inserte through a hole 107 in the back of the chute so as to extend into the path of the descending crowns. To remove the stop, this end is withdrawn and is held in place againstthe back of the chute by the spring action of the wire.

The operation of. the machine will be clear from the foregoing description. It has been stated that the cage (carrying the dial) is tion is convenient for various reasons. For example, when just starting a crownin operation, the crowns may be fed withou? opby mere y manna ly rotating the cage. This is continued until the first crown reachesthe capping head, whereupon the power is applied and continued feeding is accomplished by the automatic rotation of the cage, as aoove described. 7

Itis noted, in addition to the various novelties of the complete device, that the automatic teed andassociated parts are combinable with existing machines with very little change in the latter. if this combination is made, the originally hand fed machine is provided with the head top nut 44 having the upper holdin column 45 in place of the cap nut origina lv tODDlIlfl' the ad; the

counterbalance spring is added; the bracket 54 for the drive mechanism is substituted for the original crown cup and the throat holder nut and, lastly, the new crown plunger an throat are substituted. All of these substitutions and, additions are easily and readily made.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for feeding crown, the combination, with a hopper, of means for forming an annular storage channel clutch member.

2. In a bottle capping machine, and in combination a hopper, a cage, a shaft for rotating the cage, a tubular shaft casing extending through the hopper and" into the the flow ofcrowns,

low point of said storage Such a' construcand the like,

ca e and provided with an oil channel, a tu ular. portion on said cage telescoping said shat casing and rotatable thereon, said tubular portion of the cage having an oil channel for delivering oil to said first named channel.

3. In an apparatus for feeding crowns in combination with 'a hopper, a' hopper shaft, a crown cage and selecting dial, a ratchet having a clutch connection with said shaft and serving to hold the crown cage and dial in operative relation with the shaft, a pawl carried by the cage for engagement with said ratchet, and a releasable locking device for holding the ratchet to said shaft but permitting its removal therefrom, whereby the crown cage and selecting dial may be removed.

4. In apparatus for feeding crowns, and

in combination, a hopper, means for form- 20 ratchet, a clutch connection between said 25 ratchet and the hopper shaft, a pawl on the cage for engagement by said ratchet, a locking plate on the front of the ratchet having a portion cut out and bent awa to leave a having a groove for receiving the smaller end of said opening, thereb detachably holding the ratchet to the sha t, and means for retaining the lockin plate in position.

In testimony whereof, set my hand.

CONSTANT J; KRYZANOWSKY..

and selecting mechanism, r0

pear-shaped opening, the sha t 80 I have hereunto 35 

